The SD Legislature is working on a resolution “Calling for balanced teaching of global warming in the public schools of South Dakota.”
Sure why not. It’s pretty tough for me to argue against a resolution that concludes, “the Legislature urges that all instruction on the theory of global warming be appropriate to the age and academic development of the student and to the prevailing classroom circumstances.”
I’m all about age appropriate education and prevailing classroom circumstances.
But hold on...
There are plenty of WHEREAS’s which read like a climate change denier’s blog post. That's VERY easy to argue against, especially when it finds its way into the legislature.
Here’s the best stuff though. The THEREFORES’s include this gem: “there are a variety of climatological, meteorological, astrological, thermological, cosmological, and ecological dynamics that can effect world weather phenomena and that the significance and interrelativity of these factors is largely speculative;”
This resolution that purports to know a great deal about the value of scientific evidence includes astrology in its list of sciences.
The House has approved this 36-30. The Senate continues to defer consideration. Maybe they're busy working on a resolution putting additional emphasis on legislator literacy.
(h/t)
Monday, February 22, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
South Dakota Legislature AGAIN Affirms: Bicycles Are Vehicles
In 2006 the South Dakota Congress, as part of a larger DUI effort, attempted to remove bicycles from the definition of vehicles. Looking back four years ago I see much more clearly how close we were to disaster that year. Fortunately the effort failed and the full Congress affirmed that bicycles are vehicles.
Four years later, as the Senate discussed SB 70 - the 3 Feet Please Bill - Republican Senator and Transportation Committee Chair Mike Vehle went to bicycle law school and found himself an education.
His education was so effective that he ultimately was able to orally report his findings to the full Senate. Indeed, his presentation was so well put together it seems even a room full of sitting Senators was able to understand the lesson.
Ironically it is bill sponsor Sandy Jerstad's persistance in smoking out her "educational" bill that provided her opposition the opportunity to provide excellent education on the current laws.
Interesting that Senator Vehle's lesson hinges on the definition of bicycle as vehicle that was preserved four years ago.
Let's listen in as Senator Mike Vehle lays out the case for why 3ft isn't enough when the law clearly provides use of the full lane.
It's seven minutes...
I think Senator Mike Vehle has a bright future as a bicycle advocate!
Somebody should go tell Bob Mercer that he might need to catch a bigger fish.
Four years later, as the Senate discussed SB 70 - the 3 Feet Please Bill - Republican Senator and Transportation Committee Chair Mike Vehle went to bicycle law school and found himself an education.
His education was so effective that he ultimately was able to orally report his findings to the full Senate. Indeed, his presentation was so well put together it seems even a room full of sitting Senators was able to understand the lesson.
Ironically it is bill sponsor Sandy Jerstad's persistance in smoking out her "educational" bill that provided her opposition the opportunity to provide excellent education on the current laws.
Interesting that Senator Vehle's lesson hinges on the definition of bicycle as vehicle that was preserved four years ago.
Let's listen in as Senator Mike Vehle lays out the case for why 3ft isn't enough when the law clearly provides use of the full lane.
It's seven minutes...
I think Senator Mike Vehle has a bright future as a bicycle advocate!
Somebody should go tell Bob Mercer that he might need to catch a bigger fish.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Madville Time's Reflects
The MinusCar Project greatly apprecitates the thoughts expressed by the Madville Times today.
From the beginning - "What worries me is that this amendment would criminalize casual bicycle use for 99% of the potential pedaling population."
To the end - "And for pete's sake, don't make it any more expensive for folks to get out of their cars and travel under their own power."
Thank you.
(don't worry, apprecitates isn't in my spell checker either)
From the beginning - "What worries me is that this amendment would criminalize casual bicycle use for 99% of the potential pedaling population."
To the end - "And for pete's sake, don't make it any more expensive for folks to get out of their cars and travel under their own power."
Thank you.
(don't worry, apprecitates isn't in my spell checker either)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Hey! Where'd My Bait Go? (SD Legislature)
Now all I have is these worms.
While The MinusCar Project remains ambivalent over the need for a 3 Foot Passing Law it is quite opposed to today's developments.
What I thought was going to be an objective distance to clarify the subjective language that describes the distance between me and a passing motor vehicle NOW includes a requirement that I wear reflective clothing when riding my bicycle on a roadway.
Senator Jerstad proposed this exact language for her SB70 bill today. "Any person riding a bicycle shall use reflective material on the person's bicycle and clothing." This amendment and the bill are scheduled to be voted for on Thursday.
What if she wakes up tomorrow and decides we should all be legally required to wear helmets too?
Contact your senators and ask them to oppose this amendment.
THEN, get your slow moving vehicle triangles out and mail them to the capitol.
While The MinusCar Project remains ambivalent over the need for a 3 Foot Passing Law it is quite opposed to today's developments.
What I thought was going to be an objective distance to clarify the subjective language that describes the distance between me and a passing motor vehicle NOW includes a requirement that I wear reflective clothing when riding my bicycle on a roadway.
Senator Jerstad proposed this exact language for her SB70 bill today. "Any person riding a bicycle shall use reflective material on the person's bicycle and clothing." This amendment and the bill are scheduled to be voted for on Thursday.
What if she wakes up tomorrow and decides we should all be legally required to wear helmets too?
Contact your senators and ask them to oppose this amendment.
THEN, get your slow moving vehicle triangles out and mail them to the capitol.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Kiva Is Kool
The MinusCar Project lends to bicycle entrepreneurs through Kiva.org.
Like Stepan Ivantsiv in the Ukraine who does bicycle sales and wants to increase the variety of his stock.
Like Ruben Samuel Villamar Munoz in Ecuador. He wants to use the loan to buy tires and inner tubes for his business.
Like Jose Ernesto Gutierrez Garcis in Nicaragua. The financing he is requesting will be used to buy replacement parts and accessories for bicycles to sell and, when a customer buys said parts, to install them on their bicycles.
All three for $75. A little goes a long way.
The MinusCar Project likes Kiva.org
Like Stepan Ivantsiv in the Ukraine who does bicycle sales and wants to increase the variety of his stock.
Like Ruben Samuel Villamar Munoz in Ecuador. He wants to use the loan to buy tires and inner tubes for his business.
Like Jose Ernesto Gutierrez Garcis in Nicaragua. The financing he is requesting will be used to buy replacement parts and accessories for bicycles to sell and, when a customer buys said parts, to install them on their bicycles.
All three for $75. A little goes a long way.
The MinusCar Project likes Kiva.org
Thursday, February 11, 2010
"Slumburbia"
Three Feet Please? SB70 had an exciting day yesterday in the legislature. Voted down 4 to 3 and tabled indefinitely, then "smoked out" and passed to the full senate by 3pm. Good times. Like reality TV only real and not on TV. I was able to listen live (.mp3) to the discussion which is always informative. The Local Daily reported on the bill's progress in today's issue. I recognized some of the names mentioned in the article.
Today I sat in on a Plain Green 10 Conference planning meeting. That was sort of fun in a "I'm outside my comfort zone" sort of way. On the opening day Steve Clark of Bike/Walk Twin Cities will speak. I kinda sorta had a little to do this this. April's a long way away but his plan is to ride here to present. His plan also is to participate some in the April 30 South Dakota Bicycle Coalition Traffic Skills 101 course...which I believe is mentioned in the article I referenced in the first paragraph.
Circle closed.
Finally I came across and fully enjoyed these words today:
Today I sat in on a Plain Green 10 Conference planning meeting. That was sort of fun in a "I'm outside my comfort zone" sort of way. On the opening day Steve Clark of Bike/Walk Twin Cities will speak. I kinda sorta had a little to do this this. April's a long way away but his plan is to ride here to present. His plan also is to participate some in the April 30 South Dakota Bicycle Coalition Traffic Skills 101 course...which I believe is mentioned in the article I referenced in the first paragraph.
Circle closed.
Finally I came across and fully enjoyed these words today:
"Nobody is home in the cities of the future. In a decade, they saw real property defy reality in real time in these insta-neighborhoods that sprouted in what had been some of the world’s most productive farmland. In places like Lathrop, Manteca and Tracy, population nearly doubled in 10 years, and home prices tripled.and...
After inhaling all this real estate helium, some developers and their apologists in urban planning circles hailed the boom as the new America at the far exurban fringe. Every citizen a homeowner! Half-acre lots for all! No credit, no problem!
Others saw it as the residential embodiment of the Edward Abbey line that 'growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.'"
"In the meantime, during these low, ragged years, a few lessons about urban planning can be picked from the stucco pile.Full article...
One is that, at least here in California, the outlying cities themselves encouraged the boom, spurred by the state’s broken tax system. Hemmed in by property tax limitations, cities were compelled to increase revenue by the easiest route: expanding urban boundaries. They let developers plow up walnut groves and vineyards and places that were supposed to be strawberry fields forever to pay for services demanded by new school parents and park users.
Second, look at the cities with stable and recovering home markets. On this coast, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and San Diego come to mind. All of these cities have fairly strict development codes, trying to hem in their excess sprawl.
Developers, many of them, hate these restrictions. They said the coastal cities would eventually price the middle class out, and start to empty.
It hasn’t happened. Just the opposite. The developers’ favorite role models, the laissez faire free-for-alls — Las Vegas, the Phoenix metro area, South Florida, this valley — are the most troubled, the suburban slums."
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Bob's 3'1" Fish
Does Bob Mercer suggest measuring the three feet between me and his 4000lbs of steel and glass with a 3'1" fish?
Thanks Bob.
Thanks Bob.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Where DOES The Time Go?
Is this thing still on?
I haven't yet made summary of my MinusCar performance for 2009 - so I've got no empirical evidence of improvement. I think my car miles decreased again but I'm not sure. I DO know that last year I purchased my first tank of gas on January 26. This year I'll likely be a day or in arrears of that pace.
Lots of snow. Lots of snow and rain. A little extra driving to enjoy the snow on skis and snowshoes is putting me a tad off pace.
--
In other noise - the top three MinusCar Project efforts at this very moment are...
I'm on the schedule to teach the League of American Bicyclists Traffic Skills 101 through the school districts Community Education program. This is probably the most important development for me personally.
State Senator Jerstad introduced 3ft Please legislation this week. The MinusCar Project is mostly ambivalent about asking for additional legislation. It's important for lots of cyclists though - it's a movement that's sweeping the nation, so I'll be supporting the effort by helping the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition.
South Dakota law already says "The driver of any vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a safe distance to the left thereof." 3ft Legislation gives an objective distance - which is necessary given the number of people surrounded by 4,000lbs of glass and metal that don't know what a "safe distance to the left thereof" is.
Falls Area Singletrack's efforts to bring off-road biking into the city continues to progress. A meeting tomorrow with the land manager (City Parks) will lead to another meeting will lead to another meeting.
Meanwhile Articles of Incorporation are being signed, bylaws are being drafted, the checkbook ended up in my hands after a meetup at Monk's this evening. Yep, evidence people still trust me with their money. We're planning the trailbuilding kickoff and the approach to the summer's trailbuilding activities. Snakebite's riding herd on this project - we're calling him President Snakebite now.
Finally, Bike To Work Day is the third Friday in May. It's a late start for planning but we're in our third year of putting on essentially the same event. I THINK things will fall into place. If not, there's still going to be free pancakes. There will also be an increased presence of the Snakebite's Bike To Work Challenge. The MinusCar Project will be offering assistance.
It's not an accident that there's four things on my top three list.
I haven't yet made summary of my MinusCar performance for 2009 - so I've got no empirical evidence of improvement. I think my car miles decreased again but I'm not sure. I DO know that last year I purchased my first tank of gas on January 26. This year I'll likely be a day or in arrears of that pace.
Lots of snow. Lots of snow and rain. A little extra driving to enjoy the snow on skis and snowshoes is putting me a tad off pace.
--
In other noise - the top three MinusCar Project efforts at this very moment are...
I'm on the schedule to teach the League of American Bicyclists Traffic Skills 101 through the school districts Community Education program. This is probably the most important development for me personally.
State Senator Jerstad introduced 3ft Please legislation this week. The MinusCar Project is mostly ambivalent about asking for additional legislation. It's important for lots of cyclists though - it's a movement that's sweeping the nation, so I'll be supporting the effort by helping the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition.
South Dakota law already says "The driver of any vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a safe distance to the left thereof." 3ft Legislation gives an objective distance - which is necessary given the number of people surrounded by 4,000lbs of glass and metal that don't know what a "safe distance to the left thereof" is.
Falls Area Singletrack's efforts to bring off-road biking into the city continues to progress. A meeting tomorrow with the land manager (City Parks) will lead to another meeting will lead to another meeting.
Meanwhile Articles of Incorporation are being signed, bylaws are being drafted, the checkbook ended up in my hands after a meetup at Monk's this evening. Yep, evidence people still trust me with their money. We're planning the trailbuilding kickoff and the approach to the summer's trailbuilding activities. Snakebite's riding herd on this project - we're calling him President Snakebite now.
Finally, Bike To Work Day is the third Friday in May. It's a late start for planning but we're in our third year of putting on essentially the same event. I THINK things will fall into place. If not, there's still going to be free pancakes. There will also be an increased presence of the Snakebite's Bike To Work Challenge. The MinusCar Project will be offering assistance.
It's not an accident that there's four things on my top three list.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
I Have Transportation Issues
Today as I waited for SAM (formerly Sioux Falls Transit) surrounded by beautiful falling snow lit by the red taillights by passing motorists a dear woman stopped on the road behind me and inquired if I'd like a ride to school. How surprised she would have been to find this snow covered old man sitting in her passenger seat.
I declined.
The snow continued for most of the day again turning me into the snowman checking in for his workout session. I assured the desk folks that I do occasionally find a way to exercise outside…which somewhat alarmingly isn’t free. It takes taxes or special permission, or both.
Later in the day I was informed repairs were complete on The MinusCar. After another decent walk through much less falling snow, I was sitting in the driver’s seat of a running car. It had been a few days since I’d last handled a steering wheel.
On the way home I stopped long enough at Best Buy for The MinusCar to break again.
So there I was. Without a car. Stranded. Just the way I like it.
I wandered west on 41st Street and found Señor Wiener. I stopped and enjoyed a chili dog and some innuendo from Sioux Falls premier weiner specialists.
I wandered west some more and decided to check for Adbusters Magazine at Barnes & Noble. Sold out. I browsed for a moment and realized the book I wanted to read was in my pocket so I filled The MinusCup with some chai and read…
…until The Family caught up to me and we went home to shovelling.
The end.
I declined.
The snow continued for most of the day again turning me into the snowman checking in for his workout session. I assured the desk folks that I do occasionally find a way to exercise outside…which somewhat alarmingly isn’t free. It takes taxes or special permission, or both.
Later in the day I was informed repairs were complete on The MinusCar. After another decent walk through much less falling snow, I was sitting in the driver’s seat of a running car. It had been a few days since I’d last handled a steering wheel.
On the way home I stopped long enough at Best Buy for The MinusCar to break again.
So there I was. Without a car. Stranded. Just the way I like it.
I wandered west on 41st Street and found Señor Wiener. I stopped and enjoyed a chili dog and some innuendo from Sioux Falls premier weiner specialists.
I wandered west some more and decided to check for Adbusters Magazine at Barnes & Noble. Sold out. I browsed for a moment and realized the book I wanted to read was in my pocket so I filled The MinusCup with some chai and read…
…until The Family caught up to me and we went home to shovelling.
The end.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
MinusCar TV: Good Neighbor Edition
Sometime last February my TV stopped working. I may have missed a memo but whatever. There's plenty of good material on the intertubes.
This week I found myself in an e-mail conversation making the case that the effort I and others are putting into Falls Area Singletrack (FAST) satisfies James Howard Kunstler’s requirement that we make ourselves “useful to [our] neighbors and fellow citizens.”
A remarkable theme emerged for me over the next few days.
In his superb TED Talk Kunstler says, "Life in the mid 21st century is going to be about living locally. Be prepared to be good neighbors." It’s his final point. Watch the whole talk at the TED website.
Later in the week Krista Tippett talked with Bill McKibben on her Speaking of Faith program. He’s "founder of 350.org, a global climate campaign named after what scientists deem the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, 350 parts per million."
Krista says he’s written, "Research has shown that when we live on car-filled streets our number of close friends drops by half. We eat half the meals we used to with friends, family, neighbors...The big question for this century may turn out to be how fast we can relearn the skill of neighborliness."
Finally the Sanctuary For Independent Media has released this video of Reverend Billy and The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. In “Beatitudes of Buylessness” he finishes off the song with “Blessed are you who disturb the customer. You just might be loving your neighbor.”
So Merry Christmas! I celebrated numerous times this week the birth of the man who got killed for saying crazy things like “The second greatest commandment in the bible is to love your neighbor as yourself.” What was true 2000 years ago is confirmed by many of my favorite people today.
Happy Birthday Baby Jesus.
This week I found myself in an e-mail conversation making the case that the effort I and others are putting into Falls Area Singletrack (FAST) satisfies James Howard Kunstler’s requirement that we make ourselves “useful to [our] neighbors and fellow citizens.”
A remarkable theme emerged for me over the next few days.
In his superb TED Talk Kunstler says, "Life in the mid 21st century is going to be about living locally. Be prepared to be good neighbors." It’s his final point. Watch the whole talk at the TED website.
Later in the week Krista Tippett talked with Bill McKibben on her Speaking of Faith program. He’s "founder of 350.org, a global climate campaign named after what scientists deem the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, 350 parts per million."
Krista says he’s written, "Research has shown that when we live on car-filled streets our number of close friends drops by half. We eat half the meals we used to with friends, family, neighbors...The big question for this century may turn out to be how fast we can relearn the skill of neighborliness."
Finally the Sanctuary For Independent Media has released this video of Reverend Billy and The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. In “Beatitudes of Buylessness” he finishes off the song with “Blessed are you who disturb the customer. You just might be loving your neighbor.”
So Merry Christmas! I celebrated numerous times this week the birth of the man who got killed for saying crazy things like “The second greatest commandment in the bible is to love your neighbor as yourself.” What was true 2000 years ago is confirmed by many of my favorite people today.
Happy Birthday Baby Jesus.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Wardrobe Malfunction & Mouth Run-On
This evening as I prepared my wardrobe for the ride home I found myself facing a zipper problem. The Fox Stormfront jacket that I celebrated in this blog post from January 2006 had developed a faulty zipper.
This was critical. I was desperate for time and facing the necessity of riding home in mid-teen temperatures with an unzipped jacket. Luckily a second zipper pull on the jacket saved me.
Now I'm looking with suspicion on my other single zipper pull jackets. I don't know if I'll be able to trust again.
---
I stood and spoke favorably to the City Council tonight about the Shape Sioux Falls 2035 Comprehensive Plan. There are verified reports that Mr. Bite did as well but he availed himself an earlier opportunity. I did not see him nor hear his words.
I find myself contemplating the replacement of TV with real tangible experiences – and I consider that I might be on to something. In front of me was the mayor whom I'd handed a LAB Bicycle Friendly Community award to a couple months ago. To my left was councilor Kenny Anderson whom I'd last seen (and mostly first seen) less than a week ago inside the Kenny Anderson Community Center. We were presenting the FAST/Leaders Park plan to some of his constituents.
I was highlighting some of my favorite bits of the plan and got to corridors. In an attempt to demonstrate the importance of planning corridors I suggested one need only watch a group of teenage girls try to walk from the Empire Mall to the Empire East Mall to realize corridors need attention.
I relinquished the podium. The next man to speak identified himself with his name, his address, and his high level position at the Empire Mall - "thank you very much” – which received a fair amount of laughter.
I stand by my statement.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Footprints In A Contest!
I've entered my popular and very special "Footprints" photo in the Alliance For Biking and Walking's People Powered Movment Photo Contest.
I wouldn't mind at all if readers visited the photo and gave it a vote or two.
Furthermore I wouldn't mind at all if you spread the word, event a little.
For my Footprints story read the post here.
Thanks.
I wouldn't mind at all if readers visited the photo and gave it a vote or two.
Furthermore I wouldn't mind at all if you spread the word, event a little.
For my Footprints story read the post here.
Thanks.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Carbon Lite? Go Outside.
Saturday morning I got up bright and early and headed off to lead the regularly scheduled FAB Coffee & Donut Ride. I arrived at the rendevous to find four hearty souls waiting in the 26-degree temps.
A guest! We were pleased to have Tom from Minneapolis join us for the ride. It didn't take long to learn he volunteers for Transit for Livable Communities, one of my favorite organizations, and he knows some of my (heros?) favorite people.
We headed off to Dunn Brothers - and I managed 27 miles for the morning.
In the afternoon The Family headed to the Outdoor Campus. We explored the place for a few hours. I took some pictures of the wildlife along the way.
I failed to take a picture of the snake we found warming in the sun. Snakes. November. The Boy 7 and The Wife saw a deer - I didn't get a photo of that either.
I did get a tree sloth.
There was a kid who's not necessarily soft spoken but he still had a big stick .
We found these ducks.
This one appeared to be Alpha.
Finally, it was clear that we'd overstayed our welcome.
We wandered some more and found a bird named Woody...
...and a tree that could hold everybody up.
Finally it was getting late...
...so we headed home.
A guest! We were pleased to have Tom from Minneapolis join us for the ride. It didn't take long to learn he volunteers for Transit for Livable Communities, one of my favorite organizations, and he knows some of my (heros?) favorite people.
We headed off to Dunn Brothers - and I managed 27 miles for the morning.
In the afternoon The Family headed to the Outdoor Campus. We explored the place for a few hours. I took some pictures of the wildlife along the way.
I failed to take a picture of the snake we found warming in the sun. Snakes. November. The Boy 7 and The Wife saw a deer - I didn't get a photo of that either.
I did get a tree sloth.
There was a kid who's not necessarily soft spoken but he still had a big stick .
We found these ducks.
This one appeared to be Alpha.
Finally, it was clear that we'd overstayed our welcome.
We wandered some more and found a bird named Woody...
...and a tree that could hold everybody up.
Finally it was getting late...
...so we headed home.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wandering around the city. Left the car behind a while ago. Haircuts, Caribou (we got in trouble for beverages on the bus - a risk I knowingly took), couldn't quite grasp the 10th & Phillips demonstration as we passed on the bus. They were gone when we were able to make our way back. I assume PETA. Finally the Visual Arts Center - Scott Ehrisman's got a piece it kinda like - and Roller Dollz photos too.
Good times exploring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)